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Spenser: A Mysterious Profile
The Boston PI agrees to an interview in this entertaining blend of short story and biographical profile by the legendary mystery author.
Spenser and his psychologist girlfriend, Susan, are relaxing in a courtyard on a lovely June afternoon. But accompanying them is Susan’s friend Amy, and she’s got a a book examining the men in risky professions—cops, firemen, special forces soldiers . . . and PIs. Requesting some help in her research, she peppers Spenser with questions. This short work by the New York Times–bestselling author of the Spenser series follows the stories he tells in his inimitable style, on topics ranging from his childhood to his personal relationships to, most intriguingly, what gets him up every morning to take on the bad guys once again.
“The toughest, funniest, wisest, private eye in the field.” —Houston Chronicle
“Spenser probably had more to do with changing the private eye from a coffin-chaser to a full-bodied human being than any other detective hero.” —Chicago Sun-Times
Previously published in the collection In Pursuit of Spenser
Spenser and his psychologist girlfriend, Susan, are relaxing in a courtyard on a lovely June afternoon. But accompanying them is Susan’s friend Amy, and she’s got a a book examining the men in risky professions—cops, firemen, special forces soldiers . . . and PIs. Requesting some help in her research, she peppers Spenser with questions. This short work by the New York Times–bestselling author of the Spenser series follows the stories he tells in his inimitable style, on topics ranging from his childhood to his personal relationships to, most intriguingly, what gets him up every morning to take on the bad guys once again.
“The toughest, funniest, wisest, private eye in the field.” —Houston Chronicle
“Spenser probably had more to do with changing the private eye from a coffin-chaser to a full-bodied human being than any other detective hero.” —Chicago Sun-Times
Previously published in the collection In Pursuit of Spenser
- GenresFiction
36 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 24, 2022
74 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Robert B. Parker
489 books2,299 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database named Robert B. Parker.
Robert Brown Parker was an American writer, primarily of fiction within the mystery/detective genre. His most famous works were the 40 novels written about the fictional private detective Spenser. ABC television network developed the television series Spenser: For Hire based on the character in the mid-1980s; a series of TV movies was also produced based on the character. His works incorporate encyclopedic knowledge of the Boston metropolitan area. The Spenser novels have been cited as reviving and changing the detective genre by critics and bestselling authors including Robert Crais, Harlan Coben, and Dennis Lehane.
Parker also wrote nine novels featuring the fictional character Jesse Stone, a Los Angeles police officer who moves to a small New England town; six novels with the fictional character Sunny Randall, a female private investigator; and four Westerns starring the duo Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch. The first was Appaloosa, made into a film starring Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen.
Robert Brown Parker was an American writer, primarily of fiction within the mystery/detective genre. His most famous works were the 40 novels written about the fictional private detective Spenser. ABC television network developed the television series Spenser: For Hire based on the character in the mid-1980s; a series of TV movies was also produced based on the character. His works incorporate encyclopedic knowledge of the Boston metropolitan area. The Spenser novels have been cited as reviving and changing the detective genre by critics and bestselling authors including Robert Crais, Harlan Coben, and Dennis Lehane.
Parker also wrote nine novels featuring the fictional character Jesse Stone, a Los Angeles police officer who moves to a small New England town; six novels with the fictional character Sunny Randall, a female private investigator; and four Westerns starring the duo Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch. The first was Appaloosa, made into a film starring Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 5, 2024
Not exactly a book but around 20 pages of an interview presentation of Spenser (and of course Susan). Strictly for fans of the series.
December 20, 2025
This one was fun to read. I love the way it turned into an interview with Susan and Spenser. I hav been a fan of Parkers work for many years and this is just icing on the cake.
August 14, 2022
I really enjoyed this one but again, what the hell is up with the horrible formatting?? It was so hard to figure out who was talking because the " " started on random lines. An example:
Amy asked "Why do you do
what you do?" Spenser looked at Susan
and replied "Well, it's like this." "It is."
Susan said.
Annoying as hell!!!
Amy asked "Why do you do
what you do?" Spenser looked at Susan
and replied "Well, it's like this." "It is."
Susan said.
Annoying as hell!!!
December 23, 2022
E-book published in 2022 by MysteriousPress.com/Open Road
The Mysterious Profile series' title pretty much sums up what the series is all about. They are short profiles of famous lead characters in mystery series in the words of the authors themselves. Sometimes they are interviews in which the authors tell about the inspiration for the characters. Other times, they are scenes in which the characters explain themselves.
This profile is of the wisecracking detective Spenser created by Robert B. Parker. Parker (1933-2010) wrote 40 novels featuring wisecracking private detective Spenser and literally had a heart attack and died at his desk writing the 41st novel.
The Spenser books are the mold of any modern book series featuring a principled and competent investigator with a tough, mostly silent friend of dubious morality to back him up. This model is followed in the current-day book series of Elvis Cole by Robert Crais and Joe Pickett by C.J. Box.
The problem of having Parker provide a profile of Spenser is that Parker has been dead for a dozen years. This profile is taken from another book, a collection of essays called In Pursuit of Spenser: Mystery Writers on Robert B. Parker and the Creation of an American Hero. Parker wrote a scene where Spenser is interviewed by a Harvard psychology professor (Spenser's love interest is a colleague of this professor) about manliness, love and what makes him tick.
If you have read a Spenser novel, you know that half of them have a scene very much like this. Parker was big on having Spenser express a great deal of self-awareness and openly discussing it with his girlfriend Susan Silverman while sitting around the dinner table. I usually found those scenes something to be skimmed over, especially when you've read something similar a dozen times or more.
When I found out about this book, I was hoping it was the type of profile that discussed the creation of the Spenser character. However, I was happy to indulge in a bit of nostalgia and read this "interview."
Note: the formatting in this e-book has issues. It makes the conversation hard to follow until you get the hang of it.
I rate this e-book 3 stars out of 5.
https://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2022...
The Mysterious Profile series' title pretty much sums up what the series is all about. They are short profiles of famous lead characters in mystery series in the words of the authors themselves. Sometimes they are interviews in which the authors tell about the inspiration for the characters. Other times, they are scenes in which the characters explain themselves.
This profile is of the wisecracking detective Spenser created by Robert B. Parker. Parker (1933-2010) wrote 40 novels featuring wisecracking private detective Spenser and literally had a heart attack and died at his desk writing the 41st novel.
The Spenser books are the mold of any modern book series featuring a principled and competent investigator with a tough, mostly silent friend of dubious morality to back him up. This model is followed in the current-day book series of Elvis Cole by Robert Crais and Joe Pickett by C.J. Box.
The problem of having Parker provide a profile of Spenser is that Parker has been dead for a dozen years. This profile is taken from another book, a collection of essays called In Pursuit of Spenser: Mystery Writers on Robert B. Parker and the Creation of an American Hero. Parker wrote a scene where Spenser is interviewed by a Harvard psychology professor (Spenser's love interest is a colleague of this professor) about manliness, love and what makes him tick.
If you have read a Spenser novel, you know that half of them have a scene very much like this. Parker was big on having Spenser express a great deal of self-awareness and openly discussing it with his girlfriend Susan Silverman while sitting around the dinner table. I usually found those scenes something to be skimmed over, especially when you've read something similar a dozen times or more.
When I found out about this book, I was hoping it was the type of profile that discussed the creation of the Spenser character. However, I was happy to indulge in a bit of nostalgia and read this "interview."
Note: the formatting in this e-book has issues. It makes the conversation hard to follow until you get the hang of it.
I rate this e-book 3 stars out of 5.
https://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2022...
June 10, 2022
Most authors in this series, give you a glimpse into the creation of their popular characters. Not here, at all. This was a just circular conversation set up to be an interview or maybe a short story. Either way, a one-star was a bit of a stretch even for this. I have never read this author, and if this is how his novels are set up then, no thanks.
May 17, 2024
Top notch characterization
A very good deep dive into Spenser's personality. Balanced well with Spenser's signature wit. I would love a book like this delving into Hawk's personality.
A very good deep dive into Spenser's personality. Balanced well with Spenser's signature wit. I would love a book like this delving into Hawk's personality.
May 26, 2022
Classic Spenser
So good to have this quick read that is iconic Spenser. In character to the last.
Best character for all time.
So good to have this quick read that is iconic Spenser. In character to the last.
Best character for all time.
June 1, 2022
This is a good example behind who them
And this interview turns out to be a great opportunity for the newcomer to the Spenser mysteries to find out more about them.
And this interview turns out to be a great opportunity for the newcomer to the Spenser mysteries to find out more about them.
June 15, 2022
Not sure who wrote this since Robert Parker died in 2010. I'm being generous with 4 stars. Nothing new or enlightening here, but if you're new to Spenser, you'll get some background.
June 18, 2022
Love Spenser
I am a big Spencer fan and this little story was very nice and informative. Spencer and Susan are always a delight.
I am a big Spencer fan and this little story was very nice and informative. Spencer and Susan are always a delight.
February 1, 2023
wish it were 10x longer
Sassy insightful. A useful character study, although devoid of plot. Won’t make you fall in love w Spenser, but it reminds you why you did.
Sassy insightful. A useful character study, although devoid of plot. Won’t make you fall in love w Spenser, but it reminds you why you did.
April 27, 2025
odd ... interview with Spencer and Susan, about their philosophies and choices... hmmm
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews